5 x Red Cherry Shrimp Sakura Grade – Neocaridina Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp – Ayr Aquatics

5 x Red Cherry Shrimp Sakura Grade – Bred in Ayr, Scotland

Sakura grade Red Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var. red) are a step up from standard cherries. You get a deeper, more even red across the shell, legs and tail and far less of the clear, washed-out patches seen in lower grades. Our Sakura line is selectively bred by Ayr Aquatics in Ayr, South Ayrshire, and kept in mature, planted tanks so the shrimp arrive settled, eating well and showing good colour.

This listing is for a pack of 5 Sakura Red Cherry shrimp. A 5-pack is ideal if you want to try the variety, add colour or new bloodlines to an existing red colony, or stock a small nano tank of 10–20 litres. With five shrimp you will usually get both males and females, but if breeding is your main goal we recommend the 10- or 20-pack for a guaranteed mix.

Colour and grade

Red Cherry shrimp are graded by how much red they show and how solid that red is. From lowest to highest the usual grades are Cherry, Sakura, Fire Red and Painted Fire Red. Sakura sits in the middle: mostly solid red bodies with only a little transparency, and noticeably better colour than pet-shop cherries without the price of Painted grade. Females usually show the strongest colour. Males are smaller and slimmer, with lighter red and some clear areas, which is normal for this grade.

Why choose Sakura Red Cherry shrimp?

Sakura Red Cherries are one of the best value shrimp you can buy for a planted aquarium. Their red stands out against green moss, carpeting plants and dark substrate, they are tough enough for beginners and they breed readily, so your colony grows and the colour can improve over generations if you keep selecting the best-coloured shrimp.

Keeping the line pure: Keep Sakura Red Cherries with other red Neocaridina only. If you mix them with Blue, Yellow, Orange or Black Rose Neocaridina they will crossbreed and the babies will gradually revert to dull brown, wild-type colour.

Water parameters

• Species: Neocaridina davidi
• Temperature: 18–26°C (no heater needed in most UK homes)
• pH: 6.5–8.0
• GH: 6–10 · KH: 2–8
• TDS: 150–300 ppm
• Adult size: approx 2–3cm
• Lifespan: 1–2 years

Caring for your Sakura Red Cherry shrimp

Add them to a fully cycled tank only, with zero ammonia and nitrite. Shrimp are sensitive to copper, so check any plant fertilisers or medications before using them. Use dechlorinated tap water and do small, regular water changes of 10–20% a week rather than large ones. Moss, plants, cholla wood and Indian almond leaves give them biofilm to graze on and hiding places when moulting. Feed a quality shrimp food every day or two, in amounts they finish within a couple of hours, plus the occasional blanched vegetable.

Acclimatisation

Float the bag for 20–30 minutes to match temperature, then drip-acclimatise slowly over 1–2 hours before netting the shrimp into the tank. Do not pour the bag water into your aquarium. Keep the lights low for the first day and do not worry if they hide at first. That is normal.

Sakura red cherry shrimp FAQs

What is the difference between Sakura and normal Red Cherry shrimp?
Sakura grade has a deeper, more solid red with less transparency. Standard cherries are lighter and patchier. Both are the same species and need the same care.

Why do some of my shrimp look paler after delivery?
Shrimp often lose a little colour from the stress of the journey. Give them a week or two in a planted tank with dark substrate and the red usually comes back strongly.

How many Sakura shrimp should I start with?
Ten is a good number to start a breeding colony, as it almost guarantees a good mix of males and females. Twenty will get a colony going faster in a larger tank.

Delivery

Sent Royal Mail Tracked 24, Monday to Wednesday only so nothing sits in a depot over the weekend. Insulated packaging with heat or cool packs depending on the weather, marked LIVE ANIMALS. Buy more than one pack and you only pay postage once. Collection from Ayr is also available.

DOA guarantee

Live animals cannot be returned. Dead on arrival guarantee: if any shrimp arrive dead, send us a photo of the unopened bag within 2 hours of delivery and we will refund or replace them.

You will receive 5 healthy, mixed-sex juvenile to young adult Sakura Red Cherry shrimp, approx 1–2cm. Also available in packs of 5, 10 and 20 from Ayr Aquatics on UK Shrimp.